Thursday, July 26, 2007

It's a Go!

I mentioned Sunday that I was open to the possibility God would give us a great new house by moving in the seller to accept our low-ball offer. Well, the seller countered and Monday we went to look at the house again to decide if we wanted to make a new offer. (Brian calls this negotiating process a dance. I didn't realize we were going to be doing the Tango!)
As I walked through the house, totally loving it, I asked God if this was the place He wanted us to live. When it came time to decide on our offer I was content to "risk" it by only going up a little bit. If we didn't get the house, I was trusting God was behind the decision. Well, the seller didn't budge on his counter offer and I was content, believing it to be God's answer.
Shortly after we told our realtor we weren't going to accept the counter offer, things started happening. They asked us to meet in the middle, and a host of other things from which I'll spare you the details lest my head start spinning again.
We were at the point of considering coming up a little bit more but were wondering, What if God was closing a door today and now we're re-opening it? I wanted this move to be God-led. I wanted His best. If His best was for us to stay right here, that was fine with me. And if it was for us to move, that's what I wanted to do. But we just weren't sure to how to know if this new line of negotiation was God moving, or us.

Ultimately we came up a little bit in our offer and before we called it in we prayed, telling God we didn't want this house if it wasn't what He knew was best for us. We asked Him to close the door again, if He had in fact closed it earlier in the day. We begged Him to protect us from doing something stupid. Then we called our realtor.
A few minutes later he called us back saying the seller wanted us to come up another thousand dollars. Yes, just one thousand dollars. We said, NO WAY. We had just asked God to close the door if necessary and there was no way we were going to move to open it.
Well, Tuesday evening we got the call that our offer had been accepted. We're getting the house! I can hardly believe it. The kids are each going to have their own bedroom. Brian and I are going to have our own bathroom. The basement is finished and will be a great place for the kids to hang out with their friends. It has a huge yard. And we're going to have an extra bed in my office (right now my "office" is a corner of the kids' playroom!) sooooo, anytime one of my bloggy friends wants to come to Michigan, I'll have a place for you to stay! *hint, wink*

We'll close on the house in a few weeks and right now we're in a mad dash to get our current house ready to sell. For the past two days I have been patching and sanding, washing walls, moving furniture and deep cleaning, sorting, and throwing away. Today painting is on the agenda. Today I am also going to call and get the kids registered in the new school district. It's hard to believe this is all happening, and so quickly. School starts in less than six weeks, and in that time we'll be getting this house ready to sell, settling into a new house, helping the kids get acquainted with their new digs and meeting new friends.
My posting here will surely be sporadic (I've been wanting to write this post since Tuesday night!) and brief, at best. I would certainly appreciate your prayers, especially for my kids as they adjust to new schools!
Thanks so much. I love you!


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20 comments:

Gayle @ thewestiecrew said...

Congratulations, Karen!! I am rejoicing with you on your new home...how exciting!
I wanted to mention that I have enjoyed reading your post about meeting your hubby, too. :)

KarenW said...

Congratulations! I'm glad that you'll get to move before school starts.

Annie said...

Wonderful wonderful news!
I'm so happy for you and your sweet family Karen!

ConservaChick said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Oh the stresses of real estate! I think I've seen God in action more through the buying and selling of our homes than just about any other time. It's great that you can walk into this knowing you are in God's will! Congratulations! ~Karlie

Joyful Days said...

This is such a wonderful post! Congratulations on your new house and most of all how beautiful that you gave this to God. I am inspired.

Prayers for a peaceful move and for much joy in your new home.

~Blessings~
Julie

Kelli said...

Congrats!!! Isn't so cool when God just walks us through, isn't it!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! It sounds like your new home will be a wonderful place for your family. I hope the transition will be a smooth one!

Corrie said...

Congratulations & Yea for GOD!!! I am so glad that you guys stuck with your guns, following God, even if it meant saying "no!" And then, God turned it around for your benefit anyway! I LOVE that about God!!!
I know what you are going through, having just moved...your hard work will pay off though! If God already worked out the first half of the equation, I'm pretty sure he's already got the other half taken care of!

Tishia said...

Wow Karen that is so exciting! God is amazing, isn't he?! I bet it will be nice not only for the kids to have their own rooms but for you to have your own 'real office space'! Praise God :-)

Jenileigh said...

Oh Karen! Congratulations!!!! I will be praying for you all! I'm so excited for you. What a wonderful blessing! ;) {{{{{Karen}}}}}

Anonymous said...

I shall send you a housewarming present: a basket to set by your new front door into which all things needing to be remembered can be placed: rented videos, library books, etc. I think it's a GREAT idea! I think while I'm at it I'll get us matching ones....

:-)
Congratulations! New houses are exciting!!
-Joyful Mom

Maddy said...

Well they do say that moving house is one of the top three most stressful things that you can inflict upon yourself!
It certainly was for us.
Cheers and enjoy your summer

A Captured Reflection said...

Wow, Karen. How exciting. I remember when we moved house nearly 3 years ago, trusting God with the timing and selling ours. It was a real journey of faith as we went for a bigger house and it took us 2 months after buying the bigger house before we sold ours, but you know what...God was faithful and we learned a lot along the way and it was all good!! May your sale go through smoothly, may the preparations all go well. Love and prayers

kreed said...

Hooray! That is so exciting that you are not only getting the house, but also know for sure that God led you there! Awesome! I'll be thinking of and praying for you and your kids...as you know, everyhting will work out right since God is in your corner!

Jenny said...

First, congratulations! And second, while others will be getting you housewarming gifts, I'll just take you up on the offer to sleep in your bed in your office *smile,wink* Now, wouldn't that just be the icing on both our cakes????

Renee said...

Congratulations on getting the house! Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day. I agree with you about kids negotiating; it's just too funny to watch our son negotiate for the things he's wanting. He comes up with some really good debates - enough that my hubby and I change our minds because it's so impressive!
Have a great move!

Speaking Thru Me Ministries said...

yeah - we just closed on our house on Friday. we have started ripping wallpaper and getting floors ready to be refinished!! oh the fun, but my oh my the work. we don't think we will be moved inuntil early December.........it was built in 1929 and needs much TLC.... we just love it!

Have fun and praise Him!

Oldqueen44 said...

Praise God! How exciting for the whole family.

Shawna said...

Oh wow, Karen. God was (and is)really working. Thanks for sharing how you and your husband waited on God's timing. That's a real encouragment to me.

Nan said...

Congratulations on the new house! I hope the move goes smoothly!